Michael Bunting pleaded his case.

The NHLB次元官网网址檚 Department of Player Safety then handed down its verdict.

The Toronto Maple Leafs winger has been suspended for the next three games of his teamB次元官网网址檚 first-round playoff matchup with Tampa Bay after delivering an illegal check to the head on Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak in the series opener.

The incident occurred with 4:20 remaining in TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 second period when Bunting clipped his unsuspecting opponent up high as he went to battle for the puck.

Cernak fell backwards to the ice and needed help getting to the locker room. He did not return to the bench in TampaB次元官网网址檚 resounding 7-3 victory.

Bunting, who plays on the LeafsB次元官网网址� top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, received a match penalty and a game misconduct.

The Toronto native had 23 goals and 49 points in 82 regular-season games in 2022-23.

Cernak, meanwhile, was fourth in ice time among Lightning defencemen, averaging 19 minutes 14 seconds.

Leafs blue-liner Mark Giordano said before the suspension was announced that Bunting didnB次元官网网址檛 intend to injure Cernak.

B次元官网网址淭hose two guys have played each other a long time, and they play each other hard,B次元官网网址� the veteran defender said following WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 practice. B次元官网网址�(BuntingB次元官网网址檚) thinking both guys are going to sort of engage shoulder-to-shoulder, but unfortunately their guy wasnB次元官网网址檛 really in that mode of engaging, and he got hit.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think Bunts really even looked at him. It was just one of those plays where you know who youB次元官网网址檙e playing against, and the guy knows heB次元官网网址檚 going to come at you hard. He was trying to just go shoulder-to-shoulder, get some separation, and it ended up in that.B次元官网网址�

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke earlier Wednesday about BuntingB次元官网网址檚 value to his roster.

B次元官网网址淎 guy that plays with our top players and has ability to score goals for us, plays with lots of energy,B次元官网网址� Keefe said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 come to be an important part of our team.B次元官网网址�

And then he calmly put on his amateur psychologistB次元官网网址檚 hat in the wake of a disastrous playoff opening.

Toronto not only fell flat in Game 1 of its first-round series with the battle-tested Lightning B次元官网网址� KeefeB次元官网网址檚 team looked like a shadow of its 111-point regular-season self in an embarrassing 7-3 loss on home ice.

Instead of the connected, committed, offensively talented and defensively responsible group that finished fourth in the NHLB次元官网网址檚 overall standings, the Leafs were a timid, unsure, sloppy bunch on a humbling, worrying Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 feel good about the effort or results,B次元官网网址� Keefe said. B次元官网网址淏ut you brush yourself off and get back to work.B次元官网网址�

It was only one game, the coach and his players stressed, but their opponent has also made the Stanley Cup final three years in a row, including victories in 2020 and 2021, and topped Toronto in a razor-thin, best-of-seven matchup at the same stage last spring.

The margin for error on a team without a series victory since 2004 has already drastically shrunk.

B次元官网网址淚mportant to get on the ice and be together as a group,B次元官网网址� Keefe said following WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 brief practice. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 adjustments always to be made, but when your frame of mind changes a lot of things snap back into place.

B次元官网网址淲e werenB次元官网网址檛 anywhere near ourselves.B次元官网网址�

That was certainly the case, especially in front of goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who also struggled in the spotlight.

B次元官网网址淥ur urgency has to go way, way higher,B次元官网网址� Giordano said. B次元官网网址淔or whatever reason, we were just a step off, and it felt that way all night.

B次元官网网址淧lay with confidence, play with that swagger that weB次元官网网址檝e had all year.B次元官网网址�

Booed off the ice by the home fans at both intermissions and again at the final buzzer, the Leafs were down 3-0 after the first period thanks to two turnovers and a power-play goal against.

There was a brief surge in the second that saw Toronto score twice on the man advantage, but discipline and some curious officiating decisions opened the door for Tampa to score four more times, including an additional two on the power play, for the comfortable victory.

B次元官网网址淭oo many penalties,B次元官网网址� said Marner, the setup man on all three of his teamB次元官网网址檚 goals. B次元官网网址淟etting that power play get rolling is a bad thing to do. We gotta protect our net better.

B次元官网网址淲asnB次元官网网址檛 the start we wanted. ThatB次元官网网址檚 something that weB次元官网网址檝e really tried to emphasize this year, getting on our toes to start games. We didnB次元官网网址檛 do that.B次元官网网址�

Tampa, meanwhile, showed thereB次元官网网址檚 still plenty of gas left in the tank after a disappointing end to its regular season.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think anything surprised us,B次元官网网址� Giordano said. B次元官网网址淲e know what type of team they are. We had some bad, bad moments in the game individually and collectively.B次元官网网址�

Keefe pointed out it wasnB次元官网网址檛 so much about his teamB次元官网网址檚 structure. It was about understanding the gravity of the situation in the moment.

B次元官网网址淲e were tentative, we were on our heels,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 really not where we are or who we are, and thatB次元官网网址檚 certainly not how weB次元官网网址檝e played for the last chunk of time.B次元官网网址�

Keefe has also seen his group respond all year.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e bounced back really well when we havenB次元官网网址檛 been ourselves,B次元官网网址� Keefe said. B次元官网网址淭he emotions go both ways in a playoff series. ItB次元官网网址檚 about us just regrouping, refocusing here, and understand the importance of (ThursdayB次元官网网址檚) game.

B次元官网网址淎nd have an effort that reflects that.B次元官网网址�

LIMPING LIGHTNING

Tampa head coach Jon Cooper updated the status of three players who left TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 game with undisclosed injuries, including minute-crunching defencemen Victor Hedman and Cernak.

Hedman could be available for Game 2, but Cernak wonB次元官网网址檛 play. Cooper added centre Michael Eyssimont, who took a big hit from Jake McCabe, and also wonB次元官网网址檛 dress in Game 2.

The Lightning could get a lineup boost from Tanner Jeannot as he recovers from a leg injury suffered earlier this month.

B次元官网网址淔eeling good,B次元官网网址� said the forward. B次元官网网址淲orking hard at getting back as quick as possible.B次元官网网址�

KNIES ON THE RISE?

With the Leafs minus Bunting until a potential Game 5, rookie forward Matthew Knies could draw into the lineup.

The 20-year-old, who signed with Toronto at the conclusion of his NCAA season, skated with Ryan OB次元官网网址橰eilly and Noel Acciari on Wednesday.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to have a guy with such experience,B次元官网网址� Knies said of OB次元官网网址橰eilly. B次元官网网址淰aluable information for me.B次元官网网址�

Keefe wouldnB次元官网网址檛 tip his hand on any lineup decisions, but might also go with 11 forwards and seven defencemen.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a great option for us,B次元官网网址� the coach said of Knies, who has three NHL regular-season games under his belt. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 taken care of all that he can do in the short amount of time heB次元官网网址檚 been here.B次元官网网址�

Calle Jarnkrok skated in BuntingB次元官网网址檚 spot on TorontoB次元官网网址檚 top line with Marner and Auston Matthews at practice.

B次元官网网址淵ou win, you lose, itB次元官网网址檚 gotta go in the trash can right away,B次元官网网址� Jarnkrok said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be ready to roll.B次元官网网址�

SAMSONOV STARTS

One confirmed roster lock was that Samsonov will get the nod in Game 2 after allowing six goals on 29 shots before getting the hook in favour of rookie Joseph Woll.

B次元官网网址淗e wanted to get on the ice,B次元官网网址� Keefe said. B次元官网网址淗e was sending a message to the team about how focused he is B次元官网网址� looks ready to get back at it.B次元官网网址�